Full Review of 'The Aeneid' by Virgil

The Aeneid
Study Guide by Course Hero
TENSE
What's Inside The Aeneid is mostly told in the past tense, although there is
some present-tense and future-tense narration.
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 ABOUT THE TITLE

Although Virgil wrote in Latin, he used the Greek form of
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1 Aeneas's name in his title as an homage to the Greek writer
Homer, his literary predecessor.
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3
h Characters .................................................................................................. 3
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 8 d In Context

c Book Summaries .................................................................................... 14
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 28 Homer's Influence

l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 30
The Aeneid was modeled after The Odyssey and The Iliad, epic
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 31 poems written by Greek poet Homer. Like The Odyssey the
first six books of The Aeneid describe the hero's quest for a
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 33 home, although in Homer's work Odysseus is trying to return
home from the Trojan War, whereas Aeneas searches for a
new home. Like The Iliad, the second six books of The Aeneid
describe events from the Trojan War. Homer tells of the fall of
j Book Basics Troy, whereas Virgil describes a Trojan victory.
AUTHOR
Virgil Roman History
YEARS WRITTEN
Unlike Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, which exist mainly
c. 30–19 BCE
independent of historical context, The Aeneid is intertwined
with Roman history. There were very few historical records
GENRE
from the early days of Rome, but the legend of Aeneas (a
Adventure
survivor of Troy) as Rome's ancestor had been developed
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR through previous centuries and was generally accepted by
As the narrator of The Aeneid, Virgil describes the thoughts Romans as real. Virgil tied this belief together with mythology
and feelings of the characters in his story in the third person. and historical events to create a new legend of the destiny of
Books 2 and 3 are narrated by Aeneas in the first person, Rome.
telling the story of his travels from Troy.
The Aeneid Study Guide In Context 2
primarily by men).
Roman Virtues
The last king of Rome was overthrown around 509 BCE,
It is difficult for modern readers to understand why Aeneas beginning the Roman Republic. In the republic, the king was
acts the way he does as a Roman hero without knowing the replaced by two consuls with equal power who were elected
entrenched Roman concepts of who a Roman was and how he each year, and the Senate and a popular assembly controlled
was expected to behave. In the first place, only men of specific administrators and made decisions. A military dictator could be
lineage could be Roman citizens, or ideal farmer-soldiers. This appointed for up to six months in times of emergency.
lineage was secured through the paterfamilias (the male head Although many details were modified over time, this essential
of the household). Women could be citizens but had few rights; balance of power lasted for almost 400 years.
the materfamilias (mother) was interchangeable. Aeneas easily
goes through several wives without loss of honor. The only
Roman respect to family had to do with the paterfamilias. A Expansion
father without a son could publicly adopt a young man as his
own "son" or publicly denounce a son if he thought his wife had From its start as a single city-state, Rome expanded to control
been unfaithful. most of Italy by the early third century BCE. Rome's expansion
brought it into conflict with Carthage, a seafaring and
A most important Roman virtue was gravitas, a serious and
commercial center on the African coast of the Mediterranean.
grave attitude toward all issues with an emphasis on truth,
Beginning in 264 BCE, Rome and Carthage fought in three
reality, and reason. Gravitas stands in opposition to levity—a
wars called the Punic Wars after the Latin word Punicus,
lighthearted or humorous attitude —and furor, extreme
meaning Carthaginian. Although Carthage's great general
passion. Levity was attributed to the less-than-manly Greeks,
Hannibal (247 BCE–c. 183 BCE) invaded and occupied Italy
and furor was an attribute held by any non-Roman (such as
during the Second Punic War, he never conquered Rome.
slaves and barbarians). It was by way of giving up passions of
Roman sea power and armies ultimately overwhelmed
pride, jealousy, anger, and love that a Roman hero found his
Carthage, destroying the city and ending the Third Punic War
path to his duty. So it is not surprising that the main
in 146 BCE. As a result, Rome gained territory to its west, in
troublemakers in Aeneas's story are female.
Spain and northern Africa. At the same time, it expanded
The sum expression of Roman heroism in gravitas is in pietas, eastward, conquering the Adriatic coast, Greece, Macedonia,
or reverence of duty to family, country, and the gods. However, and parts of Asia Minor. War and conquest became a vital part
Virgil's portrayal of the Roman gods and goddesses as of the Roman identity, the best way for the ambitious to gain
reckless, impulsive to the point of being capricious, jealous, and money and power.
even silly would not have been much of a surprise to the

educated Roman. Pietas in reference to the gods was defined
as a public display of respect. By attributing to their gods and Civil War
goddesses more human personal lives, the Romans gave
themselves a more godlike image. This concept allowed However, as Roman territory continued to expand in Europe,
Augustus Caesar to make the claim that as Aeneas's Africa, and Asia, tensions rose at home. Beginning around 90
descendant, he had the goddess Venus as his ancestor. BCE a series of uprisings in Italy and the territories fostered
the rise of two powerful generals—Pompey (106–48 BCE) and
Julius Caesar (100 BCE–44 BCE)—who seized political control
Founding and Roman Republic in Rome. Both rose to prominence via the military: Pompey
mostly in the eastern Mediterranean and Caesar in Europe.
Historians believe the city of Rome was founded in Latium (the They used their power and wealth to gain political power in
ancient name of a territory in central western Italy) around 753 Rome, first as allies but eventually as rivals fighting a war for
BCE. According to legend, its founder and first king, Romulus, control. Caesar's superior army won, and in 46 BCE he
organized the abduction of women from the neighboring declared himself dictator for 10 years, an unprecedented
Sabine tribe to help populate his new city (which was founded length of time.
Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

The Aeneid Study Guide Author Biography 3
Caesar's success was short-lived, however—he was BCE. His poems were immediately and hugely successful in
assassinated two years later. Again there was a fight for Rome. He was the unsurpassed master of the poetic form of
control, won by two of Caesar's allies: his adopted son, the time, and Romans felt his poems spoke for them.
Octavian (63 BCE–14 CE), and his supporter Mark Antony (83
BCE–30 BCE). Once again initial alliance turned into civil war, At some point Virgil came into contact with Gaius Maecenas (c.
and Octavian defeated Antony in a naval battle at Actium, 70 BCE–8 BCE), a patron of literature and an adviser for the
Greece, in 31 BCE. Octavian was granted the name Augustus young Gaius Octavian (63 BCE–14 CE), who would later
Caesar by the Senate in 27 BCE, and he showed a great deal become Emperor Augustus Caesar. Maecenas steered Virgil
of political savvy as he steadily reorganized government and other writers to topics that glorified Augustus and Rome.
systems to gain more power without jeopardizing his own The destiny of Rome (and Augustus) is a major theme in The
popularity. These changes made Augustus the first Roman Aeneid. It is unclear when Virgil started writing The Aeneid, but
emperor, and he ruled for four decades. most of it was likely composed after Octavian won the Battle
of Actium in 31 BCE, finally ending nearly a century of civil
wars. Both Virgil's patriotism and his strong dislike of civil war
Destiny of Rome can be seen in his epic.
In 19 BCE, after more than a decade of work, The Aeneid was

When Virgil wrote The Aeneid (roughly 30–19 BCE), Rome was mostly complete, but Virgil wanted three years to revise and
exhausted from decades of civil war. Using the legend of perfect it. He traveled to Greece to do so but caught a fever
Aeneas as the father of Rome, Virgil celebrated the peace and returned to Italy. He died September 21, 19 BCE, shortly
achieved by Augustus Caesar as the start of a new golden age after reaching the port of Brundisium (now known as Brindisi).
in which Rome would responsibly dominate the world. The He reportedly wanted his unfinished work destroyed after his
destiny of Roman power is the driving force of the epic, so death, but his wishes were overridden by Augustus, who
much so that scholars have commented that the true hero of required the epic to support not only Roman superiority, but
Virgil's work is not Aeneas, but Rome. also his own claim as Aeneas's descendant.
One of the main obstacles to the achievement of Rome's In the two millennia since, Virgil's work has never ceased to be
destiny in this story is Aeneas's attachment to Carthage's influential. One of the Eclogues, which seemed to prophesy the
queen, Dido. This is more than a love story, however. By birth of Christ and Aeneas's piety in The Aeneid, inspired early
choosing Rome over Dido, Aeneas proves his honor. It is a Christians so much that Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) made Virgil
point Romans would not have missed, given their knowledge of his guide to the Christian afterlife and included other Aeneid
the love affair between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. In sharp characters, such as Dido, in his Divine Comedy.
contrast to Aeneas, Antony chose love over his duty to Rome.
While ruler of Rome's eastern territories, Antony fell in love
h Characters
with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Their affair lasted more
than a decade, and Antony eventually took her side in a war
against his homeland. It was a choice that resulted in his
dishonor and suicide in 30 BCE. So whereas Aeneas proved
his true Roman heroism by leaving Dido and going on to glory, Aeneas
Antony didn't leave Cleopatra and was destroyed.
Aeneas is famously pious, mindful of his duty to honor the
gods, his family, and his country. This makes him awfully good
a Author Biography most of the time: measured, generous, and responsible. Like
many heroes, he carries divine blood—his mother is the
Publius Vergilius Maro, known as Virgil, was born October 15, goddess Venus—which makes him large, handsome, and
70 BCE, near Mantua in northern Italy. Although he was the supernaturally strong. However, Virgil gives him lowly human
son of a farmer, Virgil received training in formal writing. He faults as well. Aeneas is at times unsure and conflicted and can
wrote the Eclogues, a collection of poems, between 42 and 37 get carried away by his feelings. In particular, he handles the

The Aeneid Study Guide Characters 4
situation in Carthage badly and behaves callously toward Dido.

Aeneas has an important fate awaiting him. Already a hero of Dido
the Trojan War, he is destined to found the line of leaders in
Italy that develops into Romans. Aeneas is a legendary rather Dido's backstory demonstrates her bravery and strength. She
than historical figure, but Virgil places him into Italy's has escaped the treachery of her brother, who killed her
geography and history, making him seem historical. As the beloved first husband, Sychaeus; sailed halfway across the
father of Rome, he represents Romans, including good and bad known world; and founded a great city in a strange land.
attributes, and the greatness of their destiny through Virgil's However, none of her virtues or accomplishments save her
time and beyond. when she crosses Aeneas's path. First Venus and then Juno,
Carthage's own patron goddess, push her into a love for
Aeneas that is very close to madness. Aeneas's fate inevitably
Juno takes him away, and the madness drives Dido to an ending she
never would have reached on her own. Virgil also gives her
death historical consequences, attributing it as the root of the
Juno is Aeneas's main antagonist, opposing him from start to
long conflict between Carthage and Rome. Dido is a
finish. She never stops scheming to try to prevent Aeneas's
memorable symbol of the tragic consequence when the
fate. Her enmity for the Trojans springs from the cause of the
careless will of the gods conflicts with the inevitability of Fate.
Trojan War—a contest between goddesses in which she was
not chosen as the most beautiful. She repeatedly uses her
powers as queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage to
try to destroy the wandering remnants of Troy. Frustrated in Anchises
her own marriage to Jupiter, her brother-god and fellow child
of Saturn, she is jealous, vengeful, and holds a grudge. But Anchises is the "best of fathers" to Aeneas, wise and strong in
even her powers cannot change Aeneas's destiny, which has character, always doing what he thinks is best for his son. He
been set by the Fates. She is also subject to Jupiter's isn't always right—he, too, displays human failings—but he is
oversight. She displays both the reckless whims and the limits clearly the source of Aeneas's values. He exemplifies the
of the powers of the gods—even they cannot change Fate. Roman ideal of respect and honor for family in the all-
important relationship between a father and a son. Anchises is
a legendary figure in his own right. In Greek stories, he was
Turnus seduced by Venus and then struck by Jupiter's lightning for

bragging about it. The liaison produces a child, Aeneas, whom
Venus gives to Anchises to raise. In The Aeneid, Anchises still
Turnus is the primary hero for the Latin forces that fight
bears the scars from Jupiter's bolt.
Aeneas in Italy. Like Aeneas, he is large, attractive, unusually
strong, and the son of a goddess (a more minor one). He fights
bravely, even heroically, in battle. Unlike Aeneas, he is impulsive
and arrogant with an exaggerated sense of his own Jupiter
importance. He is unable to accept that Aeneas's fate might
override his "right" to marry Lavinia, despite signs and As the king of the gods, Jupiter manages the other gods and
prophecies to the contrary. He is defined by anger, in large mediates between them when there are conflicts. He is
part because of the rage that the Fury Allecto instills in him to responsible for ensuring that what the Fates have predicted
start the war with Aeneas. As Aeneas's opponent, Turnus comes to pass, sooner or later. He indulges his wife, Juno, and
represents the destiny of those who arrogantly oppose the his daughter, Venus, in their efforts—up to a point. Virgil
power of Rome: they will be defeated. portrays him as mostly calm and measured, in contrast to
Juno's vengeful anger, but he is not perfect either. Jupiter
tends to ravish any woman who catches his eye, willing or not.
As the enforcer of Aeneas's fate, Jupiter supports its
inevitability.

Venus
As Aeneas's mother, Venus is his most ardent supporter. She
repeatedly advocates on behalf of her son to Jupiter, checking
and rechecking that his fate is still on track. She intervenes in
events to protect Aeneas as much as or more than Juno
intervenes to obstruct him. Like all the gods, she doesn't think
about how her meddling affects other mortals. She is the chief
architect of Dido's tragedy, making her fall in love with Aeneas
to give him a safe harbor that can only be temporary. However,
there is nothing temporary about the consequences for poor
Dido. Venus represents the spectrum of love, from parental to
passionate.

Character Map
Turnus
King; opposes Aeneas
in Italy
Dido
Anchises
Welcoming queen
Wise father and adviser
of Carthage
Foes
Lovers
Father
Aeneas
Hero; leads the Trojans
Son Ascanius
Jupiter
Aeneas's son; follows in
Impartial king of the gods
his father's footsteps
Foes Mother
Spouses
Juno Venus
Queen of the gods; Passionate goddess
enemy of Troy of love
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Evander

Evander is the king of Pallanteum, who
sends his son to fight with Aeneas.
Character Description Juturna is Turnus's sister and a river

Juturna nymph, who tries to save her brother
from Aeneas.
Aeneas is the leader of a group of
Aeneas Trojans who fled the destruction of Troy.
He is fated to found a new city in Italy. Latinus is the king of Latium, a city-state
Latinus in Italy, and Aeneas's potential father-in-
law.
Juno is the queen of the gods and wife of
Juno
Jupiter, and she opposes Aeneas's fate.
Lavinia is Latinus's daughter and only
Lavinia child. Turnus and Aeneas fight over her
Turnus is the Rutulian king who fights to
Turnus as a potential future wife.
drive Aeneas out of Italy.
Mezentius is an Etruscan king who fights

Dido is the queen of Carthage. Her love Mezentius
Dido with Turnus against Aeneas.
for Aeneas is tragic.
Pallas is the son of King Evander of

Anchises is Aeneas's father, who helps
Anchises Pallas Pallanteum, and is killed in battle by
him understand his destiny.
Turnus.
Jupiter, often called Jove, is the king of

Aeolus is the god of the winds, whose
Jupiter the gods, husband to Juno, and father of
powers Juno calls upon to create the
Venus. Aeolus
terrible storm at sea at the beginning of
The Aeneid.
Venus is the goddess of love. As
Venus Aeneas's mother, she helps and protects
Allecto is the Fury called upon by Juno to
him.
Allecto incite war between the Trojans and the
Latins.
Achates is Aeneas's right-hand man and
Achates
is always by his side.
Andromache is the widow of the hero
Andromache Hector who then marries Helenus and
Amata is the wife of Latinus, and mother becomes queen of a region in Epirus.
Amata of Lavinia; Juno turns Amata against
Aeneas.
Apollo is the god of the Sun, who steers
Apollo
Aeneas toward Italy and protects him.
Ascanius, also called Iulus, is Aeneas's
Ascanius young son, who will be a great forefather
Arruns is the soldier who kills Camilla and
of the Romans. Arruns
is then himself killed by order of Diana.
Camilla is a female warrior who fights

Camilla Augustus is the descendant of Aeneas,
with Turnus against Aeneas.
Augustus who represents the great destiny of
Rome.
Creusa is Aeneas's first wife, who dies
Creusa
during the fall of Troy.
Diana is the goddess of hunting, who
Diana orders the death of Arruns for killing
Drances is a Rutulian critic of Turnus, Camilla.
Drances
who argues against war with Aeneas.

The Aeneid Study Guide Plot Summary 8
Diomedes
Diomedes is an accomplished Greek
warrior who refused to join the Latins in
Aeneas Tells of His Feats
their war against Aeneid.
Aeneas tells Dido the story of their travels so far, beginning
with the destruction of Troy. He describes how the Trojans
Euryalus, the close companion of Nisus
Euryalus and loyalist to Aeneas, is killed in front of were manipulated into bringing a giant horse left by the Greeks
Nisus by the Latins. into their city. It was filled with Greek soldiers, who sneaked
out in the night and let in the Greek army. Aeneas fought
Mercury is the messenger god, who through the streets but could not save the city. Venus sent him
Mercury delivers instructions from the gods to back home to save his family before the fall of the city. He got
Aeneas.
his father and son safely out of Troy, but his wife disappeared
as they fled the city. When he returned to look for her, he
Neptune is the god of the sea, who
becomes territorial about the storm Juno found only her ghost, who told him to seek a new queen in Italy.
Neptune
commanded Aeolus to create and calms
it. Aeneas and the other survivors from Troy built their fleet and
then sailed to neighboring Thrace and tried to settle there.
Nisus is the adventurous cohort of However, a terrible omen of future treachery sent them back to
Nisus Euryalus who dies trying to save sea. They stopped at Delos, an island sacred to the god Apollo,
Euryalus's life.
where Aeneas was given a prophecy to settle in his ancestor's
land. Thinking of the wrong ancestor, they tried to settle on
The Sybil is Apollo's priestess, who Crete, but a plague drove them back to sea. As they sailed on,
The Sybil predicts Aeneas's future and guides him
through the Underworld. encountering monsters and old friends, the prophecy was
clarified—their new home would be in Italy. Unfortunately,
Tarchon is the Etruscan king who Aeneas's father, Anchises, died before they reached it. Aeneas
Tarchon
becomes an important ally of Aeneas. buried him in Sicily, and the Trojans set sail again, this time
getting waylaid by Juno's storm.
k Plot Summary A Tragic Love Affair Ends as

The Aeneid begins after the fall of Troy. The Trojan fleet New Adventures Begin
carrying the surviving warriors is being battered by a storm in
the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The storm has been Dido is impressed by Aeneas and his feats, and succumbs to
sent by Juno, queen of the gods. She holds a grudge against her feelings for him. Hoping it will keep Aeneas out of Italy and
the Trojans and their leader, Aeneas, over past injustices done prevent his fate, Juno maneuvers Dido into having sex with
to her by Trojans and because in the future, the descendants Aeneas. However, it is not an official marriage, and the winged
of Aeneas will destroy her favorite city, Carthage. Just as it monster Rumor flies to tell people in other towns about their
seems the Trojans will be destroyed, the sea god Neptune union. Noticing Aeneas is getting too comfortable, Jupiter
guides their ships to shore. They discover they are near the sends his messenger Mercury to remind Aeneas of his fate and
city of Carthage, ruled by Queen Dido, who welcomes them duty. Dido is terribly distraught to learn he is leaving and
warmly. The Trojans have been traveling since Troy was foresees her death. Aeneas is regretful, but nothing can delay
destroyed, trying to find a new home. Worried that Aeneas, her him or change his mind. Dido climbs on her funeral pyre, where
son, will have no place to rest, the goddess Venus makes Dido her dead body will burn, and fatally stabs herself with his sword
fall passionately in love with him. as he sails away.
Fighting unfavorable winds, the Trojan fleet stops again in

Sicily, just in time to celebrate the first anniversary of
Anchises's death. Aeneas and his people make sacrifices and

feast before the games of speed and skill. Trojans and Sicilians went to Pallanteum, a group that includes Aeneas's son,
distinguish themselves, while others are embarrassed. Aeneas Ascanius. They retreat safely within their fort, so Turnus
richly rewards both winners and other notable competitors. instead tries to burn their ships. However, Jupiter turns them
Meanwhile, Juno incites the women in the fleet, who are tired into sea nymphs, and they swim away. The Trojan comrades
of traveling, to burn the ships. Jupiter puts the fires out before Nisus and Euryalus make a daring attempt to get through the
the ships are destroyed, but it shakes Aeneas's confidence. enemy camp surrounding them and summon Aeneas back, but
The ghost of his father appears, telling him to sail to Italy and a lust for plunder betrays them to their tragic death. When
visit him in the underworld. Turnus attacks the fort itself, a few of the Trojans open the
gates to better fight the enemy. The gates are closed again,
Aeneas's first stop in Italy is Cumae, where the Sybil delivers but Turnus is already inside. He kills many Trojans before he is
prophesies to Aeneas and where the door to the underworld driven out.
lies. The Sybil foretells a terrible war before Aeneas can make
his home in Italy. She directs Aeneas to the golden bough he Aeneas sails back with the Etruscan fleet, and a great battle
must find to enter the underworld and then guides him into its begins. Aeneas and Turnus are effectively invincible against
depths. They cross the river Acheron and the marshes of the anyone except each other. Pallas, commanding the cavalry
Styx, where the ferryman Charon waits for the dead, meeting from Pallanteum, fights bravely and catches Turnus's attention.
many spirits. Aeneas sees Dido and tries to apologize, but she Pallas attacks first, but Turnus's attack is deadlier, and Pallas
refuses to speak to him. He finds his father in the Elysian dies with a spear in his chest. Fatefully, Turnus takes Pallas's
Fields, and Anchises shows him many of his Roman sword belt to wear as a trophy. Aeneas, enraged by news of
descendants who will build the Roman Empire. They include Pallas's death, finally frees the Trojan fort. Fearing Aeneas's
Romulus, Julius Caesar, and Augustus Caesar. strength, Juno whisks Turnus away from the battlefield. The
cruel Etruscan king Mezentius is still fighting, though. Aeneas
The Trojans finally find the Tiber River, where they are meant wounds him with a spear throw, but his son, Lausus, protects
to settle. Aeneas sends an envoy to make peace with the king him so he can get away. Unfortunately, that costs the noble
of Latium. Following a prophecy, King Latinus offers his Lausus his life. Mezentius returns to avenge him and is also
daughter, Lavinia, in marriage. But before the deal can be killed by Aeneas.
made, Juno sends the Fury of Rage to turn both Latinus's
queen and Turnus, king of a neighboring city and one of Aeneas sends Pallas's body home with a great procession.
Lavinia's suitors, against Aeneas. Between the three of them, When an envoy from Latium arrives, he suggests he and
they rouse Italy to war with the Trojans. Turnus fight in single combat to decide the war. In Latium, King
Latinus and Turnus learn they won't be joined by a powerful
ally, and Turnus reluctantly agrees to single combat. However,
More Warfare before it can be arranged, part of Aeneas's army approaches
the city. While Turnus unsuccessfully tries to trap Aeneas and
Turnus gathers allies, and Aeneas needs to find allies of his the other half of his army, the warrior princess Camilla defends
own to fight with him. The god of the Tiber River tells Aeneas the city. Camilla is as deadly as Turnus or Aeneas, but she gets
to go up the river to Pallanteum, which often fights against distracted, allowing an Etruscan soldier to get a spear through
Latium. There, King Evander tells Aeneas of another potential her defenses. Camilla's patron goddess Diana ensures that
ally, the Etruscans. They have overthrown their cruel king and vengeance is taken on her killer, but the defense of Latium is
are gathered to attack Turnus, with whom the former king has broken.
taken refuge. However, a prophecy says their leader cannot be
from Italy. Evander sends horsemen and his son, Pallas, with
Aeneas to meet the Etruscans. Wanting to ensure the safety of Settling Things One-on-One,
her son in battle, Venus asks her husband, Vulcan, the god of
fire, to make Aeneas weapons and armor. He creates a great with the Gods' Help
shield that shows the future glory of Rome.
Turnus agrees to single combat with Aeneas. Latinus asks him
Turnus's army attacks the Trojans left behind when Aeneas to consider another bride, but Turnus is fatalistically

determined to win Lavinia or die. On the morning of the duel,

Juno convinces Turnus's sister, Juturna, to save her brother by
provoking the armies to fight again. When Aeneas tries to stop
the escalating hostilities, he is struck by an arrow, but Venus
helps heal him. Juturna disguises herself as Turnus's
charioteer and keeps her brother away from Aeneas. When
Aeneas attacks the city, Turnus finally returns for the duel.
Turnus is no match for Aeneas assisted by the gods. Wounded
and humbled, he asks for mercy. Aeneas is about to grant it
when he sees Turnus is wearing Pallas's sword belt. In a blaze
of fury, Aeneas stabs Turnus through the heart.

Plot Diagram
Climax
7
10 Falling Action
Rising Action
6
11
5
4 12
3 Resolution
2
1
Introduction
Introduction Climax
1. Trojan ships are driven by a storm to Carthage. 9. Turnus kills the prince Pallas, igniting Aeneas's rage.
Rising Action Falling Action
2. Aeneas tells Dido of their journey from Troy. 10. The girl-warrior Camilla fights bravely and dies in battle.
3. Aeneas leaves Dido to follow his fate; she kills herself. 11. After another battle, Aeneas duels Turnus in single combat.
4. Aeneas celebrates the anniversary of Anchises's death.
5. Aeneas and the Sybil visit Anchises in the Underworld.

Resolution
6. Trojans find their fated destination and begin to build.
12. Aeneas kills Turnus in combat, becoming ruler of Latium.
7. Juno drives Queen Amata and Turnus to start a war.
8. Turnus traps the Trojans, but Aeneas arrives with allies.

Timeline of Events
Beginning of journey
After the destruction of Troy, Aeneas's fleet wanders

looking for a new home.
Seven years later
A storm drives the fleet to Carthage; Aeneas loves and

leaves Dido, queen of Carthage.
Months later
Aeneas and his people hold funeral games for his father,
Anchises, in Sicily.
Sometime later
Aeneas consults the Sybil of Cumae and they visit his

father in the Underworld.
Days later
The Trojans arrive in Latium; Juno turns Queen Amata

and Turnus against Aeneas.
Sometime later
Turnus attacks the Trojan fort; Nisus and Euryalus die

trying to get a message to Aeneas.
Days later
Aeneas and his allies arrive and fight a great battle;

Turnus kills Pallas.
The next few days
Both sides mourn their dead; Aeneas sends Pallas's body

back to Evander.
A few weeks later
Turnus attacks Aeneas's approaching troops; Camilla

fights bravely but is killed.
The next day

After one last unexpected battle, Aeneas kills Turnus in

single combat.

The Aeneid Study Guide Book Summaries 14
"plague/about to strike" her, Dido begs Aeneas for the story of

c Book Summaries his travels.
Book 1 Analysis
Virgil's Roman epic builds off of, and pays homage to, Homer's
Greek Iliad and Odyssey. The Iliad follows the warrior Achilles
Summary in the Trojan War, and The Odyssey tells of the struggles of
Odysseus (Ulysses in The Aeneid) to get home from the war.
"Wars and a man I sing—an exile driven on by Fate." With this The first half of The Aeneid is a travel epic, like The Odyssey,
iconic first line, Virgil begins to lay out the story of Aeneas, who and the second half is a war epic, like The Iliad. Virgil sets The
is destined to become the founder of Rome. Along the way he Aeneid after the Trojan War, following the Trojan hero Aeneas
will face great battles and challenges created by the angry (who also appears in The Iliad) and his fellow refugees from
Juno, queen of the gods. She wants Carthage to rule the world, Troy. Juno's anger is also related to the war. The "Judgement
but the Fates have decreed that Rome will defeat her beloved of Paris, the unjust slight to her beauty," refers to a contest in
city. Juno still resents the "Judgement of Paris, the unjust slight which Paris, a Trojan prince, picked Venus as the most
to her beauty," and she will interfere with Aeneas's destiny beautiful goddess. She rewarded him with the love of Helen,
however she can. already married to Menelaus of Greece, and they ran off to
Troy. In the resulting war, resentful Juno sides with the Greeks.
Juno bribes Aeolus, king of the winds, to sink the Trojan fleet
as it leaves Sicily, but the sea god Neptune calms the seas and Like Homer's epics The Aeneid begins in medias res, Latin for
rescues the ships. Aeneas and seven ships land in a natural "in the midst of things." Aeneas and his group have been
harbor on the Libyan coast, but they fear the other ships are traveling for seven years when the first plot event in Book 1,
lost. In the sky Aeneas's mother, the love goddess Venus, Juno's storm, occurs. Their earlier travels are told through
worries his fate has changed, but Jupiter foretells his future: Aeneas's recollections in Books 2 and 3.
Aeneas will win a long war and will rule for three years. But his
son, Ascanius, will rule for 30 years. Their descendants will rule As the author of The Aeneid, Virgil occasionally presents
until Romulus founds Rome. On Romans, Jupiter has "set no himself as the narrator in the first person, but for the most part
limits, space or time:/I have granted them ... empire without he employs the voice of an omniscient third-person narrator.
end." Of course, Virgil is human and not actually all-knowing, but he
invokes the help of the Muses, goddesses of poetry and
Exploring the area where they have landed, Aeneas and his history. Ancient Romans would have seen this immortal
faithful friend Achates meet Venus in disguise. She tells them inspiration as lending a tone of historical authority to the story.
of Carthage and Dido, its widowed queen, and reveals that
their missing ships are there. Hidden in Venus's mist, the men Virgil's famous first line, "Wars and a man I sing—an exile driven
enter Carthage unseen, and they admire the bustling city. They on by Fate," provides the broad strokes of the story he is about
make their way to the temple of Juno, where Aeneas feels to tell, as well as the central theme, the inevitability of Fate. As
welcomed by scenes of the Trojan War. Still hidden, Aeneas Jupiter explains, Aeneas's fate is set, and all the events he
and Achates watch Dido warmly welcome the other half of describes will come to pass. However, exactly how they
their fleet. The mist dissipates, and Aeneas is revealed. Dido, happen can be influenced. Aeneas's fate is tied to the destiny
familiar with his story, admires and honors him. of Rome. Aeneas's greatness foreshadows the power and
glory of Rome, which Jupiter grants "empire without end." The
Venus, worried that Juno will cause trouble, hatches a plan to closing of the Gates of War and chaining of the "Frenzy/of civil
protect Aeneas. She bids Cupid to make Dido fall in love with strife" represents the end of Rome's recent civil wars and
Aeneas. Pretending to be Aeneas's son, Ascanius, Cupid hugs Virgil's prediction of long-lasting peace under Caesar
and charms Dido, making her forget her dead husband, Augustus.
Sychaeus, whom she loved deeply. Unaware of the

Interactions between Juno, Neptune, Jupiter, and Venus story that the horse is an offering for Greek offenses against
illustrate their natures and will: they are passionate and the goddess Pallas Athena (Minerva). He says that a prophecy
temperamental, and mortals are helpless against their power. indicated Troy will invade Greece if they bring the horse into
However, even the gods cannot change Fate. Their actions the city. Great serpents kill Laocoön; these seem to be a sign
balance each other to achieve the destiny that the three Fates that he offended Minerva. To appease her they bring the horse
have spun in the thread of Aeneas's life. Angry Juno tries to to her temple in the heart of Troy.
fight Fate, sending a storm to destroy Aeneas, but Neptune
rescues him. To protect her son, Venus starts a passionate fire But it's a sly Greek trick, for the Greek ships return in the night,
of love in Dido that will ultimately destroy her. Jupiter manages and the warriors inside the horse open the gates to the Greek
and balances the other gods, ensuring that the will of the Fates army. The ghost of Hector alerts Aeneas that Troy is falling,
is carried out. telling him to leave. Burning to fight, Aeneas roams the city and
kills many Greeks, ending up at the palace, where he witnesses
"I am Aeneas, duty bound." So the hero introduces himself to the death of King Priam. Suddenly, Aeneas remembers his own
his mother in disguise. He is described throughout the poem as father, as well as his wife and son. His mother, Venus, appears,
"pious," from the Latin pius, which has a somewhat broader bidding him to flee Troy with his family, whom she has
meaning than in English. It means dutifully honoring and protected. All the gods are against Troy now.
respecting not only the gods but also family and country.
Aeneas's father, Anchises, at first refuses to leave, but two
Aeneas is presented as a paragon of Roman virtue, but also as signs change his mind: a crack of thunder crashes to the left of
having all-too-human weaknesses. Despite knowing that his them and a star shoots down, persuading Anchises that he
fate lies in Italy, Aeneas wishes to die during the terrible storm, should follow his son out of Troy. Carrying his father and
and part of him wants to stay in Carthage. This is an example holding his son's hand, Aeneas runs to escape the city; his wife,
of an important distinction Virgil makes in his story to reveal an Creusa, follows behind. When they arrive at their meeting spot,
internal conflict going on in the hero. The literary tactic has the Aeneas discovers Creusa has been lost in the confusion. He
effect of engaging empathy in the reader, who also has returns to the burning city to find her, but her ghost appears to
experienced similar doubts. As an example to Romans, this him. It is her fate never to leave Troy, but Aeneas will find a
struggle exists to inspire the reader. new queen in Hesperia (Italy).
Virgil's mastery of language is evident in the vivid imagery of

the terror of the storm, the sanctuary of the protected harbor, Analysis
and the activity of Carthage. Paying homage to Homer, Virgil
uses epic similes, extended comparisons of one thing to Signs and omens, which abound in The Aeneid, feature
another using like or as (usually related to nature), to create prominently in this book of the poem. Sometimes they are
mental pictures that still pop off the page two millennia after clear, as when Anchises asks for, and receives, a second sign
they were written. In a famous simile, he compares the workers that he should leave Troy with his son. Other signs are not so
building Carthage to a beehive that "seethes with life." clear. The Trojans know the serpent attack on Laocoön is a
terrible omen, but they interpret it incorrectly as a sign that he
was wrong about the danger posed by the giant horse. Since
Book 2 the serpents slither away to the temple of Minerva, patron of
the Greeks, that may have been the goddess's intent. (Snakes
are also a motif in the poem, usually signaling death or
Summary destruction.) The fire that plays over the head of Aeneas's son
is both a sign to Anchises and a foreshadowing of Ascanius's
Aeneas tells Dido of the destruction of Troy. This flashback to fate as a great king in Italy.
past events makes them come to life at the time of his retelling:
Father-son relationships are of highest importance in The
The Greeks have apparently sailed away, leaving behind a
Aeneid—the pinnacle of devotion to the family that is part of
giant horse. Laocoön, priest of Neptune, fears the horse is a
the Roman concept of pietas (state of being pius). Leaving the
trap and attacks it. A Greek prisoner, Sinon, spins a persuasive

burning city, Aeneas literally supports his father by carrying They sail north to Actium, where they celebrate and make
him on his back and keeps his son beside him. Left to follow "at offerings to Jupiter. They reach the town of Buthrotum and are
a distance," his wife, Creusa, is lost. He clearly loves her—he overjoyed to learn that the Trojan prince Helenus is now king
risks his life to go back and look for her and tries desperately and has married his brother Hector's widow, Andromache.
to hold her ghost—but his actions demonstrate that his father They are making Buthrotum into a little Troy. The reunited
and son are his priorities. Aeneas must also honor their Trojans celebrate, and Apollo speaks through Helenus,
household gods, small figures worshiped at home altars as reassuring Aeneas he will safely reach Italy after a long
guardians of a place, in this case Troy. Preserving them saves journey. He instructs Aeneas to make a sacrifice to appease
a sacred piece of Troy that can be replanted in a new land. Juno and to consult the Sibyl (an oracle) at Cumae. A white pig
with 30 piglets will mark the site of Aeneas's new city.
Fire symbolizes many things in Book 2, first and foremost the
destruction of Troy, in some of Virgil's most vivid imagery. As Aeneas makes offerings to Juno immediately upon reaching
Aeneas's home burns, "Devouring fire ... /goes churning into Italy. The fleet sails on, heading south around Sicily to avoid the
the rooftops, flames surging/ ... scorching blasts raging up the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. A calm wind forces them
sky." The gods warn or destroy with fire. Pallas (Minerva) to land near Mt. Etna, home of the giant one-eyed Cyclops. A
comes "flaming out of the clouds" to help destroy the city. survivor from Ulysses's encounter with the Cyclops,
These signs telling Anchises to leave Troy with his son involve Polyphemus warns them of the danger, and they sail away just
fire, and descriptions of the battle fury experienced by Aeneas in time. They arrive in Drepanum, home of the friendly King
and others involve a lot of fire language. Fire is both inspiring Acestes, where Anchises dies. When they sail again, they are
and vengeful. A flame appearing above Ascanius's head driven to Carthage by Juno's storm, ending Aeneas's tale of
signifies a good omen of future triumph. their journey.
Book 3 Analysis
Aeneas's stop at Actium seems a minor incident to modern
readers—it doesn't advance his progress toward his
Summary destiny—but for Romans it would have immediately brought to
mind the recent battle in which Octavian (soon to be Caesar
Aeneas and other survivors of Troy build ships and sail north to
Augustus) defeated Mark Antony, ending nearly a century of
Thrace, where they try to build a new city. However, a terrible
civil wars. The shield that Aeneas attaches to the temple doors
omen—the blood of a Trojan prince killed by the treacherous
belonged to Abas, an ancient king of the Greek city of Argos,
Thracian king—prompts them to move on. They sail south to
representing Rome's destiny to eventually conquer Greece and
Delos, where the god Apollo sends Aeneas a prophecy that he
beyond.
will settle in the land of his ancient ancestor. Recalling that the
Trojan forefather Teucer came from the island of Crete, they Aeneas's journey in Book 3 is heavy with prophecies; he gets a
sail there and begin to build a city. However, a plague strikes new one at nearly every stop. Prophecies can be
people and crops, signaling that Crete is not their new home. In misinterpreted, such as Apollo's at Delos, which initially leads
a dream the household gods tell Aeneas he has misinterpreted the Trojans to build a city in the wrong place. If they had been
Apollo's prophecy: he is fated to build in his forefather paying attention, Apollo's naming them "Sons of Dardanus"
Dardanus's land of Italy. should have told them which ancestor he meant. Prophecies
can also be forgotten. Aeneas seems to forget the prediction
The Trojans continue on, sailing northwest around Greece.
of Creusa's ghost that Aeneas will settle in Hesperia (Italy)
After a storm they land on small islands called the Strophades.
after long wanderings—he goes no farther than the
After they kill animals they find there, they are attacked by the
neighboring land mass before trying to build a new city
Harpies: half-woman, half-bird monsters. The lead Harpy,
(Aenus). Likewise, Anchises has forgotten a prophecy made
Celaeno, issues a prophecy and curse: the Trojans will not find
before the fall of Troy by Cassandra, daughter of King Priam.
their home until great hunger has made them eat their platters.
She is a minor player in The Iliad and The Odyssey, but later

works, such as Aeschylus's play Agamemnon, explain that, as Allying with the Trojans would make Carthage stronger, and
punishment for rejecting Apollo's amorous advances, she was the gods' approval can be won with offerings. Although given
cursed to accurately tell the future but to never be believed. with good intentions, the advice has tragic consequences.
In his prophecy at Buthrotum, Helenus tells Aeneas he must try Juno takes advantage of Dido's love to keep Aeneas in
to appease Juno with prayers and sacrifices. "Only then can Carthage and prevent his fate. One day when the court is out
you leave Sicilian shores at last." Aeneas makes a sacrifice to hunting, Juno sends a rainstorm that drives Dido and Aeneas
Juno when he reaches Italy, but it seems he neglects to do so into a cave, where Juno simulates wedding rituals, "marrying"
before leaving Sicily, since an angry Juno sends the storm that them. Dido doesn't hide their affair, and the winged monster
drives the fleet to Carthage. The prophecy of the Harpy Rumor incites ugly opinions and dissatisfaction with the match,
Celaeno sounds dire, but Helenus's prophecy assures Aeneas eventually bringing it to Jupiter's attention. Jupiter sends the
that it will be nothing to fear. messenger god Mercury to remind Aeneas of the importance
of his fate—especially for his son—and Aeneas prepares to
Aeneas's religious piety is well represented on his journey, with leave. However, he puts off telling Dido, and Rumor gets to her
a variety of sacrifices, offerings, and prayers to appeal to or first. She angrily confronts Aeneas—he is betraying their
give thanks to the gods, or simply to celebrate. marriage. Denying they are married, he cites Jupiter's order
and obligation of his fate. "Come, stop inflaming us both/with
Book 3 features the most direct reference to Homer's epics in
your appeals. I set sail for Italy—/all against my will." Fearing
The Aeneid, when Aeneas encounters a Greek left behind after
this will cause her death, Dido promises to haunt him. Although
Ulysses's confrontation with the Cyclops Polyphemus. The
Aeneas is crushed, his "heart shattered by his great love,/... he
man's story includes a number of details familiar from The
obeys the gods' commands." He won't even delay until spring.
Odyssey, including drilling out the giant's eye, refreshed by
Virgil's vividness of description. Although the two epics Dido tells Anna she has a plan to either bring back Aeneas or
originated hundreds of years apart in different cultures, fall out of love with him, but she is actually preparing to die.
Aeneas and Ulysses (Odysseus) are wandering at the same She builds a pyre and puts on it an effigy of Aeneas, things he
time. Ulysses's group left three months before Aeneas left behind, and their shared bed. Unsure what Dido will do,
encounters the Cyclops. The Greek's story also highlights the Mercury warns Aeneas to set sail quickly. Dido issues a curse
characterization of Ulysses. His cleverness is celebrated in The that there will be "endless war" between their peoples before
Odyssey, but in The Aeneid, told from the other side of the stabbing herself with Aeneas's sword on top of the pyre. Juno
conflict, he is deceitful and self-serving: "always true to himself releases her spirit, which leaves before its fated time, heading
when it's life-or-death." to the Underworld.
As in later battle scenes, Virgil's depiction of violence is graphic

and brutal, but it doesn't solely celebrate the protagonists.
After vividly describing the horror of Polyphemus killing and
Analysis
eating Ulysses's men, Virgil shows sympathy for the monster:
Virgil uses fire imagery extensively in Book 4 to symbolize the
"But what a price he paid!" His sheep are "his sole pleasure,/his
destructive passion of Dido's love for Aeneas. "Dido burns with
only solace in pain."
love." It is in her blood and bones: "The flame keeps gnawing
into her tender marrow hour by hour." The poet also recalls the
source of her consuming passion, arrow-bearing Cupid, with an
Book 4 epic simile comparing Dido to a wandering wounded doe,
"fixed in her side the shaft that takes her life."
Summary Whether Dido and Aeneas are married is unclear. Dido sees it
as a marriage, but Virgil says she uses the label to "cloak her
Queen Dido fears her burning love for Aeneas betrays her sense of guilt." Juno, who is the goddess of marriage, means
vows to her dead husband. However, her sister, Anna, asks: for it to be binding, providing "lightning torches" and a wedding
doesn't Dido deserve to know the joy of love and children? hymn sung by nymphs from the mountaintops. However, in the

end, it may come down to different definitions of marriage: The "endless war" she sees between their peoples references
Dido cites the "pledge once sealed with our right hands," but the three Punic Wars that pitted Rome against Carthage for
Aeneas says he did not "extend a bridegrooms torch/or enter more than a century. In the Second Punic War, the great
into a marriage pact." Carthaginian general Hannibal sailed an army to Spain,
including an elephant cavalry, and marched them over the Alps
Whatever their relationship, or Aeneas's feelings toward it, it into Italy. Dido's "avenger still unknown," he came very close to
can't alter his inevitable fate. When Mercury delivers Jupiter's taking out her revenge on Rome.
message, Aeneas seems invested in Carthage, building its
walls and wearing Tyrian purple (the color of royalty and a Virgil's depiction of Rumor in The Aeneid is famously striking.
symbol of Dido's origin in Tyre). Jupiter uses Aeneas's pius She is a winged monster: under every feather an "eye that
duty to his family, particularly his son, Ascanius, to motivate never sleeps and as many tongues as eyes/... ears pricked up
him to leave—"does the father of Ascanius grudge his son/the for news." This is a remarkable visualization of rumors that
walls of Rome?" (Significantly, Aeneas is never called pious seem to see and hear everyone's business and spread through
during his stay in Carthage.) After the message Aeneas is split, a thousand wagging tongues. Rumor is the "swiftest of all the
"He yearns to be gone, to desert this land that he loves." evils in the world./She thrives on speed, stronger for every
Although a stammer reveals his uncertainty, the case for stride."
leaving he makes to Dido seems cold, giving his love for her
and Carthage little credit. Perhaps he is afraid that speaking it
will make it impossible to leave. Regardless of Aeneas's Book 5
feelings, he barely looks back once Mercury points him toward
Italy. Despite all Dido's pleas, "His will stands unmoved."
This decisive action by Aeneas appears to the modern reader

Summary
as a betrayal of heroic character, but it was never a virtue for a
The Trojans see Dido's pyre burning as they sail away. A
Roman hero to remain enamored of a woman. Virgil supplies
strong wind forces them toward Sicily, where King Acestes
the "loophole" for Aeneas to tell Dido that they weren't actually
warmly greets them. It has been a year since they buried
married. Roman readers would agree that the sacrifice of Dido
Aeneas's father, Anchises, there, and now it is time to hold his
is "regrettable" but necessary to the far more important
funeral games. As Aeneas pours offerings on his father's tomb,
destiny Aeneas has in going on to found Rome, for which he
a snake slithers out, tastes the offerings, and disappears back
will need not an "African" queen, but a Roman wife (Lavinia).
into the tomb. Is it Anchises's spirit? Aeneas and his men make
Virgil is likely making reference to the recent defeat of Antony
sacrifices and wait nine days. Then the games begin. The
and Cleopatra here, since in this instance Aeneas passes the
Trojans and Sicilians compete in dramatic races in ships and
test, whereas Antony did not.
on foot, in a boxing match, and in an archery contest. Aeneas
Dido immediately sees that the departure of Aeneas will kill richly and fairly rewards all notable participants. Ascanius and
her, and she moves steadily toward that end. Many images his friends close the games with a complex demonstration of
evoke death and dying. Dido prays for death, and her offerings horseback skills.
to the gods become corrupted. She builds a pyre, usually used
While the games are going on, Juno sends her messenger, Iris,
for funerals, calling on Chaos, god of the Underworld; Erebus,
to the Trojan women who are part of Aeneas's group.
his son and god of darkness; and Hecate, goddess of
Disguising herself, Iris plays on their frustration with seven
crossroads and the Underworld (she is a form of Diana,
years of wandering. When one woman sees through Iris's
goddess of wild places on earth and the moon in the sky).
disguise, she drives the women to madly set fire to the ships.
Hecate is also associated with witchcraft, and many of Dido's
Rushing to the shore, Aeneas prays to Jupiter, who sends a
actions related to the pyre, such as gathering herbs under
rainstorm to put out the fires. Nevertheless, Aeneas's
moonlight and standing "with one foot free of its sandal," are
confidence in his fate is shaken. Should he stay in Sicily? An
traditional elements of magic. She has turned toward darkness.
adviser tells him to leave those Trojans tired of
Dido's curse before she dies predicts events in Roman history. traveling—Acestes will make them a home—and continue with

the rest of his followers to Italy. Anchises's ghost comes with In the simile describing the equestrian demonstration
the night, bidding Aeneas to visit him in the Underworld when performed by Ascanius and his friends, "the labyrinth once in
he gets there. hilly Crete," Virgil uses the mythical Minotaur's labyrinth to
emphasize the complexity of the horseback maneuvers.
Upset by Juno's interference, Venus appeals to Neptune, god
of the sea. He assures her the Trojans will reach Italy In Book 5 fire again symbolizes passion, destruction, and
safely—only one life will be lost. During the night, the God of destiny. The book begins with the sight of Dido's burning pyre,
Sleep overwhelms Palinurus, the pilot of Aeneas's ship, and a symbol of destructive passion. In the games fire language is
throws him overboard. primarily used in the boxing match. The old champion
Entellus's "blood runs cold" due to age until the
embarrassment of overbalancing "fires him up." In the archery
Analysis match, Acestes's arrow bursting into flame is a sign—"a potent
marvel/destined to shape the future"—perhaps of the new city
The funeral games are the essence of Aeneas's pietas. He that Acestes builds for the Trojans who decide not to continue
isdoing his duty to honor and respect his family, in this case his on to Italy.
father's memory. It again emphasizes the importance of the
father-son relationship in The Aeneid. Nowhere else do the Fire is associated with destruction and madness when the
Trojans spend so much time (at least 10 days) sacrificing, goddess Iris appears to the women in disguise. She says
feasting, and celebrating for a single purpose. Another aspect Cassandra, who was considered mad, gave her flaming
of pietas, paying respect and honor to the gods, is also a large torches in a dream as a sign to burn the ships. The fire would
part of the games, often with direct rewards. Cloanthus have consumed all of the ships without Jupiter's intervention.
ensures his win in the ship race by promising a future sacrifice The message from Anchises's spirit reignites Aeneas's
to the gods of the sea. Seeing his fleet in flame, Aeneas prays commitment to his fate, and he symbolically revives the fire to
to Jupiter, who immediately sends rain to put out the fires. worship the household gods.
Aeneas worships the household gods of Troy and Vesta,
goddess of the hearth, before sailing for Italy, symbolizing his
recommitment to honoring Troy by accepting his fate. Book 6
The snake motif appears again in the form of a serpent that
slithers out of Anchises's tomb during the funeral ceremony.
Unlike most other snake appearances in the poem, this one
Summary
seems peaceful and non-threatening, associated with death
Aeneas and his fleet finally arrive in Italy, landing at Cumae,
but not destruction.
home of the Sybil (a priestess of Apollo and Diana who sees
Virgil models Anchises's funeral games after those in Homer's the future). He makes the required sacrifices and promises to
Iliad (put on by Achilles for his friend Patroclus). The first build a new temple for Sybil when he founds his fated city in
contest in The Aeneid is a ship race rather than a chariot race, Latium. The god Apollo speaks through her, prophesying that
but Virgil practically circles the parallel by comparing the Aeneas will achieve his fate, but not before a terrible war. For
speed of the ships' start to chariots. Parallels can also be seen Aeneas to visit the Underworld, he must find and pluck a
in details of the races. As in The Iliad, the leader in the footrace golden bough precious to Proserpina, queen of the dead, from
loses by slipping in the mess from a sacrifice, though Virgil a tree deep in the forest. Aeneas appeals to his mother, and
ends the race in a different way. Even the prizes Aeneas offers Venus sends doves to guide him. He enthusiastically tears the
often parallel those offered by Achilles, except they are richer branch off the tree.
and grander. In one inconsistency that Virgil may have cleaned

The Sybil and Aeneas enter the cave leading to the Underworld
up had he lived longer, Aeneas lists a javelin contest when
and approach the river Acheron, which dead souls must cross
introducing the games (one appears in The Iliad) that is never
to enter the Underworld. Aeneas spots a number of men from
described further.
his fleet who have died, but they cannot cross because their
bodies remain unburied. The Sybil assures Aeneas's pilot,

Palinurus, that strangers will bury his body soon. Charon, tears it off in his zeal." However, since he is able to pluck it, it
ferryman of the dead, challenges them, but the golden bough seems he is meant to visit the Underworld.
allows them to pass into the Underworld.
Aeneas's encounter with his pilot, Palinurus, illustrates an
In the Underworld each type of dead soul has its own area. The important belief of both the Greeks and Romans—the unburied
marshes around the Styx hold the souls of the tragic dead cannot enter the Underworld and thus may return to
dead—infants, suicides, and those killed by "cruel love." Aeneas torment the living. Likewise, the ghost of Achilles's friend
sees the spirit of Dido and tries to talk to her, but she angrily Patroclus in The Iliad and the ghost of one of Odysseus's
returns to her husband, Sychaeus. She is Aeneas's "enemy (Ulysses) crew in The Odyssey cannot pass on to the land of
forever." Moving on, they encounter dead heroes, both Trojan the dead until they are buried. The Sybil's assurance that
and Greek, and Aeneas visits Tartarus, where those who don't people would find and bury Palinurus's body demonstrates the
repent of their crimes or those who defy the gods are obligation of every person to bury the dead, even those not
punished. Finally they use the golden bough to enter Elysium. their own.
In the peaceful Elysian Fields, the soul of Anchises shows The punishments in Tartarus, the pit of the damned, reinforce
Aeneas their descendants waiting to be reborn into the world. the importance of pietas: dutifully respecting and honoring the
Among many others, Ascanius points out Romulus, founder of gods, family, and country. Many of those being punished in
Rome; Julius Caesar, descendant of Iulus (Ascanius); and some way defied the gods, particularly Jupiter. Phlegyas, who
Caesar Augustus, whom he predicts will "bring back the Age of is "most in agony" for burning Apollo's temple at Delphi, cries
Gold/to the Latin fields." He previews centuries of Roman "Never scorn the gods./You all stand forewarned!" However,
history, including the Punic and civil wars. Speaking to future the reader might observe that the destruction of a temple is a
generations, he charges Romans to "rule with all your public, rather than a private, act of defiance. Given the close tie
power/the people of the earth ... / ... spare the defeated, break between the Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses with the
the proud in war." Aeneas and the Sybil return to the world of identity of Rome itself, it can be argued that it is Roman culture
the living through the ivory Gates of Sleep. even more than spiritual sentiment that has been insulted by
such defilement. Others in Tartarus betrayed their families
through violence, greed, and adultery, or betrayed their
Analysis countries through civil war—another of Virgil's condemnations
of the recent Roman civil wars.
The Sybil's prophecy again assures Aeneas that he will
eventually achieve his fate, but she expands on what others In his visit to the Underworld, Aeneas also encounters Dido and
prophecies have said: he will need to fight a long war before attempts to apologize to her for his part in her death.
building his new city. She describes it as a new Trojan Unforgiving, she turns away from him in anger and moves
War—"Simois, Xanthus, a Greek camp" (rivers around Troy and toward the shade of her first husband instead. However,
the enemy outside the gates)—and his primary foe (Turnus) as despite the fact that she is a queen, her betrayal is justified to
"a new Achilles." Again it will be a war fought over "a stranger Romans in that she is "African" (not of Roman lineage), and her
bride" (Lavinia), like the Trojan War was fought over Helen. destruction would have been interpreted by Roman readers of
the time as a foreshadowing of the conquest and complete
The golden bough allows Aeneas to access the Underworld, a destruction of Carthage (Rome's most powerful competitor).
place from which the living are usually barred (though Aeneas The identity of ruler and country is a close tie, so that the
lists a number of legendary figures who have entered it living destruction of one is the beginning of the end of the other.
before him, including Orpheus and Hercules). The bough
cannot be picked if it is not fated to be, making it a symbol of As he did with Creusa in Book 2, Aeneas desperately tries
the inevitability of Aeneas's extraordinary fate. The description three times to hold Anchises's spirit. This also pays homage to
of Aeneas removing the golden bough is a little confusing, Homer, echoing Achilles's attempt to hold Patroclus's ghost in
since it is inconsistent with the Sybil's claim that it will release The Iliad and especially Odysseus's three tries to hold his
"freely, easily,/all by itself it comes away if Fate calls you on." mother's spirit on his visit to the land of the dead in The
Instead, when Aeneas grasps it, "the bough holds back—/he Odyssey. The inability of the living to hold onto the dead

emphasizes the separation between the two realms and serves named Lavinia. Neighboring King Turnus wants to marry her,
as an analogy for human grief and attempts to hold onto loved but prophecies and signs indicate she will marry a stranger,
ones after their deaths. one whose "lifeblood will lift our name to the stars." Aeneas
starts building a town and sends a delegation to King Latinus,
Anchises's perspective in the Elysian Fields, with its souls who receives them in a hall that echoes the power and history
waiting for reincarnation, allows him to show Aeneas the great of Italy. Latinus recalls that Dardanus, one of the fathers of
leaders who come after him. Virgil's depiction of the Troy, originated in Italy. The Trojans offer gifts and pledge
reincarnation of souls appears nowhere in Homer; instead, it friendship, and Latinus offers his daughter to Aeneas to fulfill
borrows from later Greek philosophers such as Plato and the the prophecy.
Pythagoreans, but the details seem to be Virgil's own invention.
Anchises describes figures, mostly historical, from the Frustrated she cannot change Aeneas's fate, Juno vows to
founding of Rome up to Virgil's current ruler, Caesar Augustus. make the cost as high as possible—she sends Allecto, the Fury
Through Anchises, Virgil even eulogizes Augustus's potential of rage, to start a war. Driven insane by rage, Queen Amata
heir (his sister Octavia's son), who died young—the sad young whisks her daughter Lavinia away and whips the mothers of
man walking with Marcellus. Latium into a frenzy. Allecto then visits Turnus in a dream,
inflaming his heart with anger. He awakes burning with "lust for
Especially during the review of notable Roman figures, Virgil the sword, the cursed madness of war/and rage to top it off."
mixes future, present, and past verb tenses to skillfully create a Finally, Allecto causes Ascanius to inadvertently start a bloody
sense of people and events that are still to occur in Aeneas's battle with Latin citizens. Torn between his pledge to Aeneas
time but would be known to Roman readers of The Aeneid as and the anger of his people and Turnus, Latinus refuses to
historical. This sense of the past as present and future lead. He will not open the Gates of War, so Juno does it
contributes powerfully to the sense of Rome's destiny, with a herself, and "all Italy blazed." Armies from all over Italy gather
future as glorious as its past. to support Turnus.
The ivory Gates of Sleep and Gates of Horn that Virgil depicts
at the end of Book 6 are also borrowed from Homer's
Odyssey. Aeneas leaves through the Gates of Sleep, which are
Analysis
generally for "false dreams," perhaps suggesting he forgets the
At the beginning of Book 7, Virgil again calls on the Muses to
future events that Anchises has described to him. When he
help him tell of the war Aeneas must fight to claim his fate in
receives a great shield decorated with future scenes of Roman
Italy, the "history" of Rome. He specifically invokes Erato, muse
history in Book 8, Virgil tells us "he knows nothing of these
of love, because the war is fought over the right to marry a
events."
woman (Lavinia). Prophecies about Lavinia's marriage also
predict the destiny of Rome: "rising or setting, East or
West,/the whole earth turn beneath their feet, their rule." Signs
Book 7 and omens involving fire, such as Lavinia's head being
wreathed in fire (which doesn't seem to burn, similar to the fire
on Ascanius's head in Book 1), symbolize Aeneas's fate.
Summary
In an interesting interplay of the will of the gods, Jupiter fulfills
Aeneas and his fleet sail again and finally reach the Tiber River. the dire-sounding prophecy that a great hunger will make the
Upon landing the Trojans feast using dried-out wheat cakes for Trojans eat their platters (originally made by the unfriendly
plates. Jupiter prompts them to devour the cakes after eating, Harpies) in a harmless way. Their "platters" are wheat cakes,
thus fulfilling the prophecy that they will eat their platters. and the great hunger is for their new home in Italy rather than a
Aeneas praises and makes offerings to his patron gods, family, physical famine. Although Juno has godly powers, her actions
and the gods of the place, and Jupiter sends thunder and a are limited by the inevitability of Aeneas's fate. Hoping to at
fiery cloud: omens that they have reached their destination. least postpone and make Aeneas's fate more difficult, Juno
vows to make him into a "funeral torch to consume a second
Latium's King Latinus has only one child, a lovely daughter Troy." This passage refers to a story from The Iliad: before

giving birth to Paris, Queen Hecuba dreams that she is carrying confirming Ascanius will establish Alba Longa, the parent city
a burning torch, symbolizing the destruction her son will bring of Rome. He tells Aeneas to seek help from King Evander up
down on Troy. Juno wants Aeneas to wreak the same sort of the river in Pallanteum. As Aeneas prepares to sail, he sees the
destruction on Latium, but at a cost to him as dear as possible. sign and sacrifices the pigs to Juno as instructed. The Tiber
guides him to Pallanteum, the future site of Rome.
This is not the only parallel between the Trojan War and
Aeneas's conflict with Turnus. Virgil emphasizes Turnus's Evander and his people are feasting to honor Hercules, who
Greek roots (he is a descendant of Acrisius, a king of Argos in saved their city from a monster. Prince Pallas greets Aeneas
Greece who built the Rutulian city of Ardea), equating him with and his companions, and Evander welcomes them as friends
the Greeks who fought at Troy. Turnus also mirrors Aeneas in and distant kin. After the celebration, Evander welcomes
many ways: he is the son of a goddess, although a more minor Aeneas to his home, showing him many places familiar to
one, and is handsome and strong, although inevitably less so Romans. The next morning, Evander tells of a great army that
than Aeneas. With Virgil's typical sympathy for both sides, will support Aeneas—Etruscans who rose up against the
Turnus does not seem naturally war-crazy—he initially refuses monstrous King Mezentius. Mezentius is now with Turnus, so
to respond to Allecto's goading—but eventually he is infected they will fight with Aeneas. Importantly, they will follow him
by Allecto's rage. because a prophecy says they must have a leader from
overseas. Sending his ships back to Ascanius, Aeneas rides
Similar to his depiction of Rumor (who also appears in Book 7), with Pallas to meet the Etruscans.
Virgil's description of Allecto, the Fury of rage, is vividly
terrifying. She has venomous snakes for hair, one of which she Meanwhile, worried Venus charms her husband, the fire god
flings into Queen Amata's heart to inflame her anger to the Vulcan, into making weapons Aeneas can use to win against
point of madness. She flies unseen and can change her shape the Latins. Deep in his volcanic island he and his Cyclops
at will. Her faces are so terrifying that even her sister Furies assistants forge weapons, armor, and a great shield for
hate her. The rage that Allecto either creates or increases is Aeneas. Venus delivers them, and Aeneas marvels at the shield
described consistently in vivid fire language. She ignites decorated with scenes of Roman history, foretelling the future
Turnus's rage by impaling his dream body with a flaming torch, of his people.
which Virgil expands upon with an extended epic simile
comparing him to a blazing fire under a wildly boiling cauldron.
Analysis
Opening the Gates of War symbolizes that the country is at
war. In Aeneas's legendary time, they seem to function more It is significant that Evander and Pallas are introduced to the
than symbolically: Juno opening the Gates of War appears to story in the midst of a celebration to honor the hero-god
actually cause war to break out, prompting the gathering of Hercules, who saved their city. As Aeneas's primary allies, their
armies in a country that was previously "all unstirred, inert." honor and piety reflect on him. Evander and Pallas are also
Furthermore, continual reminders of the high price in suffering, another important father-son pair in The Aeneid. Evander's
doubt, and conflict are Virgil's way of reminding the reader of passionate prayer for the safety of his son shows both the
the ultimate value placed on the founding of Rome. If the path honor to family aspect of pietas and also great affection. As he
had been made easy, its value would not have been as great. sends Pallas to fight with Aeneas, he says he would rather die
himself than live to see his son die, foreshadowing the worst.
Book 8 The fact that Evander and Pallas are descended from Greeks,
related to Agamemnon and Menelaus, who fought against
Troy, fulfills one of the Sybil's prophecies. They are also related
to Aeneas, because both of their family lines descend from the
Summary Titan Atlas, father of Jupiter. They immediately bond as friends
and allies. Although Venus signals approval of the alliance,
Aeneas worries about the impending war, but the god of the
Aeneas is insightful enough to fear the price of a war that will
Tiber River appears in a dream and assures him he is fulfilling
be paid in blood.
his fate. Tiber promises the sign that Apollo foretold on Delos,

The shield that Venus has persuaded Vulcan to make for through the Rutulian camp and inform Aeneas of the situation.
Aeneas, decorated with images of Roman history, is a symbol His companion, Euryalus, insists on going with him. Ascanius
of both the inevitability of his fate and the destiny of Rome. The promises rich treasures if they succeed. Nisus and Euryalus
events engraved have yet to happen for Aeneas, but the poet sneak through the Rutulian camp, killing many enemies. Young
and the reader know they are historically fixed (even if some Euryalus takes a decorated helmet as a trophy—a fatal
are more legendary than strictly factual). This makes them decision. As they sneak toward the woods, Rutulian cavalry
inevitable for Aeneas, fixing his fate. spot them when moonlight glints off the helmet. Fleeing
through the trees, Nisus gets away, but Euryalus is caught.
Part of the shield shows legendary formative events, including Nisus returns for his friend and spears the cavalry leader, but
Romulus founding Rome and the abduction of the Sabine both comrades are killed.
women. However, it is dominated by the glory of Caesar
Augustus: the central image is his historic victory (with his Turnus's troops attack the Trojan walls. As the fighting
commander Agrippa) over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a sea intensifies, Ascanius shoots his first man: a boastful Rutulian.
battle at Actium. The aftermath of the battle, including the Someone opens the Trojan gates in the excitement of battle.
suicides of Antony and Cleopatra ("that outrage, that Egyptian At first they kill many of Turnus's people, but Turnus arrives
wife!") and Augustus's triumph in Rome, takes up the and turns the tide of battle. When the gates are finally closed,
remainder of the shield. The prominence of Augustus on Turnus is already inside the Trojan fort. He wreaks havoc until
Aeneas's shield equates the two men in greatness. From the a squadron of Trojans beats him back. He seems trapped but
city Aeneas builds, a great empire will spring. Virgil envisions boldly escapes into the Tiber River.
Augustus's empire to likewise grow exponentially in territory
and glory.
Analysis
The shield itself is modeled after the shield of Achilles that
appears in Homer's Iliad (Book 18). They are both forged by Virgil develops the complexity of Turnus's character in Book 9.
Vulcan (Hephaestus in Greek), the god of fire, at the request of Like Aeneas, he displays piety, praying "to the gods ...
the hero's mother. However, Achilles's shield shows scenes of /weighing down the heavens with his vows." However, unlike
everyday life and mythological figures, evoking moods more Aeneas, he suffers from hubris, exaggerated or foolish pride.
than a message. In contrast, Aeneas's shield is defined by He compares himself to Achilles at Troy, taking Troy's fall as a
Roman history and clearly conveys the dominant destiny of sign that he will be victorious, and boasts that his fate is to
Rome. "stamp out these accursed people with my sword." Like other
epic heroes, he is dominant in battle—no one can stand against
him (with occasional help from Juno). However, in his
Book 9 enthusiastic killing of enemies he misses a golden opportunity
to defeat the Trojans: if he had "thought ... /of smashing the
gate-bolts, letting his cohorts in," it would have been "the last
Summary day of the war." This episode is part of a pattern of battle fury
clouding a fighter's judgment with large consequences,
Taking advantage of Aeneas's absence, Turnus and his allies supporting the view that Virgil is subtly arguing against the "lust
march on the Trojan fort. Although they want to fight, the for war," or war for war's sake. Virgil may have been able to get
Trojans follow Aeneas's instructions to retreat inside their away with this risky idea by appealing to the Roman virtue of
walls. Scornful and angry, Turnus seeks a way to harm his gravitas, which, even in war, must prevail over anger and
enemies—he fires torches and approaches the Trojan fleet. promote reason.
The Mother of the Gods (who abides near Troy) appeals to her
The nature of the relationship between Nissus and
son Jupiter not to allow the Rutulians to destroy them.
Euryalus—whether their love is friendly or romantic—is
Granting the request, Jupiter turns the Trojan ships into sea
ambiguous and continues to be debated. They fit the ancient
nymphs.
Greek erastes-eromenos relationship in which an adult man is
On the walls of the Trojan settlement, Nisus sees a way to get romantically involved with a teenage boy. As a youth with only

the "first down of manhood, cheeks unshaved," Euryalus fits he commanded otherwise. Venus blames Juno, begging that
the eromenos role, and Virgil repeatedly notes that Nisus is Ascanius be saved to fulfill the destiny of Rome. Juno plays
older (though it seems not by much). Their battle exploits also innocent—she didn't send Iris to inflame war. (She sent the
call to mind the Sacred Band of Thebes, a highly effective Fury Allecto.) And didn't Venus cause the Trojan War, starting
Greek military unit comprising 150 pairs of lovers said to be all of this in the first place? Jupiter pledges not to
more motivated because of their romantic ties. However, Virgil interfere—the Fates will decide.
does not describe Nissus and Euryalus's love with the fire
language he uses to describe the passion of Dido, or the As Turnus keeps the Trojans pinned in their fort, Aeneas sails
encounter between Venus and Vulcan. Ultimately, readers back with the Etruscan fleet. Turnus sends troops to meet the
must decide for themselves. ships, and soldiers clash on the beach. None can stand against
Aeneas, especially with Venus's protection. Pallas keeps his
The story of Nisus and Euryalus's tragic end is one of the most inexperienced horsemen from retreating and kills many
poignant in The Aeneid. They are young, beautiful, and bold, enemies—until he comes to Turnus's attention. Pallas throws a
and they die together. Ascanius unwittingly foreshadows their spear at Turnus, but Turnus's shield protects him. Then Turnus
tragic deaths when he promises them a wine bowl that was a throws; his spear punches through Pallas's shield into his
gift from Dido when they succeed. They come very close, but chest. Turnus takes Pallas's golden sword belt as a trophy, an
unfortunately the Fates are against them: they are "destined to act he will come to regret.
die/but make a bloodbath first." Euryalus's desire for glorious
plunder betrays them, a pattern that repeats in Camilla's death A herald brings Aeneas the news of Pallas's death, and he
in Book 11 and also relates to Turnus's death in Book 12. The blazes through the enemy. Showing no mercy in his anger, he
death of the beautiful Euryalus is compared in a haunting simile frees his Trojans from the fort. In the heavens Juno begs to
with a blood-red poppy cut down in a field, and Virgil preserve Turnus. Jupiter allows it—but it will not change his
admonishes his readers to remember them both: "If my songs fate. Railing against Jupiter and Fate, Juno lures Turnus away
have any power, the day will never dawn/that wipes you from from the battle.
the memory of the ages."

Back on the field, Jupiter spurs the brutal King Mezentius to
Virgil's portrayal of war is considerably more nuanced than in a enter his last fight. Acknowledging no other god than his right
typical epic. The deaths of soldiers on both sides of the arm, Mezentius fails to wound Aeneas. Aeneas successfully
conflict are portrayed sympathetically with no sense of one wounds Mezentius, but Lausus, Mezentius's son, protects his
side being better than the other. The Rutulian cavalry captain father and allows him to flee. Unfortunately, Lausus cannot
Volcens is not eulogized like Nisus and Euryalus, but Virgil stand against Aeneas, but Aeneas is moved by his devotion to
does make a point to depict the Rutulians' grief. On the other his father and declines to plunder his corpse. Realizing he has
hand, Romans believed glory was earned in war, and the abandoned his son to die, Mezentius returns to duel Aeneas.
actions of characters and descriptions of battle reflect this He dies asking only to be buried with his son.
attitude. Virgil's typically vivid imagery applied to battle scenes

contributes to this, creating a jarring mix of glory and gore. As
in Homer's epics, the bodies of notable enemies who are
Analysis
captured are often abused and displayed to the other side as a
The central conflict between the will of the gods and Fate in
sign of victory.
The Aeneid is highlighted in Book 10. It is essentially a conflict
between Juno, who hates the Trojans, and Venus, who
Book 10 supports her son Aeneas. As king of the gods, Jupiter enforces
Fate, but he also indulges his wife, allowing her to temporarily
extend Turnus's life, and for her part Juno is always wary not
to push her husband too far. The interactions between Jupiter
Summary and Juno also hint at their rocky relationship. In mythology
Juno is frequently jealous and upset about her husband's
Jupiter asks the gods why Trojans and Latins are fighting when equally frequent infidelities, betraying the institution of

marriage. Jupiter, though calmer in temperament, has a blows to punch through and kill their bearers.
tendency to seduce other goddesses and mortal women.
Mythology is full of his offspring—Hercules and Helen of Troy, Mezentius's story warns against failing to honor and respect
just to name a couple. the gods. In addition to being a tyrant who murdered his own
people, he scorns the gods. Jupiter takes an active role in
Jupiter's oath of noninterference is a bit confusing. In one punishing this, goading Mezentius into the fight that eventually
place he almost seems to be saying he wouldn't prevent the leads to his death. In two epic similes, Mezentius holds off
destruction of the Trojans. However, his statement "the Fates attackers like a wild boar (notoriously dangerous and ill-
will find a way" indicates that Aeneas's fate is still on track. The tempered) and pounces on an enemy like a maddened lion.
Fates will ensure it, if not him. Jupiter does intervene in small Even he is not all bad, for he honorably refuses to kill a man
ways in Books 11 and 12, apparently without breaking his oath, while he is running away. Instead he chases him down and kills
so perhaps it only applies to the battle in Book 10, or only to him face-to-face. As he faces Aeneas he indulges in hubris, or
larger interventions. Jupiter also allows the goddesses to pride, calling his own right arm "my only god." When he
interfere, which may serve Virgil's intent in two ways. One, he dedicates his spear throw to Lausus, he also involves his son in
may be inviting the reader to question the judgments of the his offense, leading to both their deaths.
gods and therefore the power of the gods themselves. Or two,
Virgil may imply that by permitting interference of the
goddesses, the heroic nature of Aeneas is put to the test. Book 11
There would be little risk in the outcome, though, because both
gods and mortals fall under the ultimate conditions of Fate.
Pallas's death demonstrates the limits of piety when it comes

Summary
up against the inevitability of Fate. Although he prays
Aeneas sends Pallas's body home to Evander in a great
successfully to the god Tiber in an earlier battle, his prayers to
procession and allows the Latins to bury their dead. He says he
Hercules cannot help him when he faces Turnus. In the
never wanted to fight them—he would prefer to face Turnus in
heavens Hercules weeps, but he can't fight Fate any more than
single combat. The Rutulian Drances, an opponent of Turnus,
Juno can. As Jupiter says, "Each man has his day, and the time
sets out to make peace between Aeneas and King Latinus. In
of life/is brief for all and never comes again." Turnus will face
Pallanteum, Evander mourns Pallas, wishing he had died
his fate as well.
instead of his son. He charges Aeneas with killing Turnus so he
Battle fury and anger over Pallas's death overtake Aeneas's can take Pallas the news in the Underworld when he dies. Both
better judgment. He loses his reason and the sense of mercy sides perform funeral rites for their dead.
that his father's spirit urges in Book 6. The Rutulian Magus
In Latium families are sick of the cost of war. Drances
begs Aeneas to spare his life for the sake of his father and son.
suggests Aeneas's single combat idea, but Queen Amata
Aeneas refuses for his family's honor: "So the ghost of my
supports Turnus's war. The envoy to Diomedes, the great
father, so my son declares." He also denies a proper burial to
Greek hero who fought at Troy, returns with bad news:
the begging champion Tarquitus, preventing his soul from
Diomedes has no desire to fight Aeneas again and
entering the Underworld. In a practice that echoes Patroclus's
recommends Latium not do so either. Latinus and Drances
funeral in The Iliad, Aeneas takes enemies alive to burn on
want to make peace with Aeneas, but Turnus still burns to
Pallas's pyre. Only Lausus's display of love and honor for his
fight. He grudgingly consents to single combat, but Aeneas's
father reaches Aeneas, prompting him to show mercy by
troops surround the city before anything is decided. Turnus
allowing his body to be removed without plundering or
rushes off to ambush Aeneas (still on his way) in a valley.
desecrating it.
As the girl-warrior Camilla engages Aeneas's advance cavalry,

Aeneas's shield, the symbol of his fate, preserves his destiny
her patron goddess, Diana the huntress, recalls her unusual
(and through him, the destiny of Rome) by physically protecting
upbringing. Foreseeing Camilla's fate, Diana sends her archer
his life. Time and again it deflects blows without significant
Opis to take vengeance on whoever harms her. "Godlike"
damage when many other shields, including Pallas's, allow
Camilla is deadly with spear and battle-ax, killing warrior after

warrior and driving back the Etruscan and Trojan allies. country in civil war, Virgil knew these costs firsthand. Farmers
However, the Etruscan Arruns is stalking her. When Camilla is in northern Italy, where he grew up, were kicked off their land,
distracted by a desire for plunder, Apollo guides Arruns's spear which was then given to soldiers who fought in the Battle of
through her defenses. Opis follows him deep into the woods Philippi in 42 BCE. It is unclear whether Virgil's family also lost
and avenges Camilla's death. Her loss turns the battle against their land (if they did, they got it back eventually), but it made
the Latins, and they flee into the city. Turnus rushes back to an impression on him either way. However, Virgil also points
the battlefield, giving up his ambush just before Aeneas arrives. out that Drances uses bad logic and is envious of Turnus's
The sun goes down to end the battle. glory, somewhat undermining his argument.
Turnus's case for war isn't particularly effective either, since he

Analysis mostly attacks Drances rather than his arguments, a deliberate
example of the logical fallacy known as ad hominem by the
Aeneas mourns Pallas almost as his own child: "Child of rhetorically trained Virgil. Feeling he is being shamed and
heartbreak, was it you/whom Fortune denied me, coming to me called a coward, Turnus vehemently objects to the suggestion
all smiles?" This is probably based on both affection and a that he can't win, again comparing himself to Achilles. If he is
sense of paternal responsibility because Evander entrusted Achilles, why should he back down? Greeks didn't back down
Pallas to Aeneas's care. His paternal devotion to his own son is at Troy, and they ultimately won. Turnus seems to be carried
also involved as he mourns the loss to Ascanius—Pallas would away by his sense of himself, confusing the destiny of Troy
have been a friend and ally to him had he lived. As a father with the separate destiny of Aeneas and his Trojans. His
himself, Aeneas knows how Evander will feel about this loss. argument for war is basically "glory or death," and those who
Indeed, Evander's grief is deep and complex. He is glad that object are just cowards. The ineffectiveness of Turnus's
Pallas died bravely and can never be disgraced—not small argument points out the weakness of many cases for war, but
considerations in a culture where bravery and honor are highly war was also deeply embedded in Roman culture.
valued—but that is still small comfort when he no longer has his
Virgil bases his warrior princess Camilla on the Amazon
son. Virgil memorializes Pallas with an epic simile comparing
warriors of mythology, but then makes her a unique legendary
him to a flower cut down, very similar to the one eulogizing
figure. He points out Camilla's similarity to the Amazon
Euryalus in Book 9. When Aeneas covers Pallas's body with
Penthesilea in the decorations of Juno's temple in Carthage in
robes that Dido made, the connection to the tragic queen
Book 1 and compares her to Hippolyte, another Amazon queen,
emphasizes the great tragedy of Pallas's loss.
in battle: "Watch, exulting here in the thick of carnage, an
Once the heat of battle has passed, Aeneas's reason Amazon." Descriptions of her battles are as gory and brutal as
reappears. When the Latins request access to the battlefield to those of the battles of Turnus or Aeneas. She experiences the
bury their dead, "good Aeneas grants the appeal he'd never same blaze of battle rage, fights with the same type of
shun." The contrast between this and his threat on the weapons, and even runs down on foot a man fleeing on
battlefield to leave an enemy fighter's body for the vultures horseback—a superhuman feat reserved for great heroes. The
highlights the terrible consequences of rage, building Virgil's epic simile comparing her to a falcon catching a dove echoes
argument against the rage of war. Ironically, when Aeneas is Homer's simile in The Iliad describing Hector fleeing Achilles,
enraged, he is also at his most mighty, but Anchises's putting her on a level with those great warriors. Only the
instruction in Book 6 to "spare the defeated" indicates that this opposing captain Tarchon disparages her skills. However, her
strength should be used responsibly. "woman's lust for loot and plunder" leads to her death,
somewhat undermining what is otherwise a portrait of a heroic
Book 11 also contains Virgil's most explicit argument about war warrior who just happens to be a woman.
and peace. The case for peace, made by Drances, emphasizes
the cost of war to the people of Latium. Turnus's war making is
"flinging your wretched people into naked peril" and has been Book 12
"the root and spring of all the Latins' griefs!" Drances argues,
"There's no salvation in war," countering the culture of patriotic
pride and personal glory being won in war. As a product of a

pressure on the city—balance the consequences of Juno's

Summary interference and bring Turnus back to fight Aeneas. The god
Faunus holds Aeneas's spear in the roots of his sacred tree,
Wanting only to win or die, Turnus demands that the terms of
but Venus frees it. Finally, the Fury that Jupiter sends to warn
single combat with Aeneas be set. The next morning both
off Juturna also hampers Turnus in the duel. Thus, Aeneas's
armies line up and people watch from Latium's walls to see the
fate and, through him, the destiny of Rome are preserved.
fight. Still defying Fate, Juno urges Turnus's sister, Juturna, to
save him from death. Making offerings before the duel, Aeneas The Roman concept of pietas, or piety, which encompasses
vows to deal honorably with the Italians, win or lose. However, not just reverence for the gods but also for country and family,
it is evident that Turnus is no match for Aeneas. Juturna (who runs as an undercurrent through this last book of the poem.
is a minor goddess) begins to rile up the Rutulians, showing Aeneas's piety to the gods is explicit in his offerings and
them a sign: many smaller birds driving away an eagle. prayers before single combat is set to begin. Within a long list
of others, Aeneas significantly prays to Juno, trying to appease
A Rutulian throws a spear, and the truce starts to fall apart.
her anger: "goddess, be kinder now, I pray you, now at last!" He
Aeneas tries to stop the fighting, but he is hit by an arrow and
also honors his family and the all-important father-son
has to retreat. This gives Turnus hope, and he starts to
relationship by including an appeal to Anchises and advice to
rampage in his chariot—the war resumes. Venus helps heal
Ascanius in his prayers. He tells his son to always revere family
Aeneas, and he strides into the battle like a storm, looking for
as well: "Soon as you ripen into manhood,/ ...
Turnus. Terrified, Juturna impersonates Turnus's chariot driver
remember—/father Aeneas and uncle Hector fire your heart!"
to keep him away from Aeneas. Both roam the battlefield killing
enemies. Prompted by Venus, Aeneas attacks the city and Latinus asks Turnus to consider the welfare of his country and
threatens to burn it. Thinking Turnus is dead, Amata hangs his "father, bent with years and grief" rather than insisting on
herself. When Turnus learns the city is falling apart, he returns fighting Aeneas, but Turnus's rage will not let him even
to fight Aeneas, stopping the battle. consider the possibility. Turnus may believe he will preserve his
family and country by winning, but he fails to consider the very
In single combat Turnus's sword breaks—he mistakenly
real (readers know inevitable) possibility that he will lose,
grabbed his charioteer's inferior blade. He runs from Aeneas
bereaving his father and perhaps destabilizing his country. In
until Juturna delivers his own sword. In the heavens Juno finally
contrast, Juturna honors her family by doing everything she
stops fighting Aeneas's fate, asking only that his descendants
can to save her brother. She is crushed when she fails, running
be called Latins not Trojans. Jupiter calls off Juturna with an
up against Aeneas's fate. However, their failure is Aeneas's
omen: one of the Furies in the form of an owl, which also
success, preserving the honor and glory of his family and
harasses Turnus. After Aeneas wounds Turnus in the leg, he
planting the seeds for a new city and country (Rome) that will
asks for mercy for his father's sake. Moved, Aeneas is inclined
turn into an empire.
to grant it—until he sees Pallas's sword belt hanging on
Turnus's shoulder. Enraged, he stabs Turnus in the heart. After many delays and diversions, Aeneas and Turnus finally
come face-to-face in single combat, and their interaction
serves to highlight their similarities and differences. As noted
Analysis earlier, they are both the sons of goddesses, although only
Aeneas's shows up to help him. Each is the hero of his group
The will of the gods plays a central role in the final conflict, with that no enemy can defeat. They both are armed by the god of
many divine interventions affecting how events unfold, despite fire—Turnus carries a sword made by Vulcan. Yet when they
the final outcome. Turnus's reaction to Latinus's proposition stand against one another, the battle is remarkably one-sided.
that he give up his claim on Lavinia indicates that he is still Aeneas's quickly healed arrow wound evens the odds a bit, but
infected with the rage that Allecto introduced at Juno's Turnus never lands a blow. He knows he is beat even before
request: "The attempts to heal enflame the fever more." When Aeneas wounds him with a spear throw that seems to have
Juno asks Juturna to start the fighting again and keep her been thrown by a catapult.
brother from facing Aeneas, she only delays the inevitable.
Venus's interventions—healing Aeneas and inspiring him to put Aeneas's decision to kill rather than spare Turnus is

The Aeneid Study Guide Quotes 28
controversial. It goes against Anchises's instruction in Book 6

"I am Aeneas, duty-bound./I carry
to "spare the defeated, break the proud in war." Aeneas has
effectively broken Turnus. When he pleads for his life (in aboard my ships the gods of
another example of pietas) for the sake of his father and his
house and home."
people, Aeneas seems about to spare him—until he sees the
golden sword belt Turnus plundered from Pallas's body. Once
again, the lust for gold and glory leads to a tragic rage over — Aeneas, Book 1
Pallas's death and puts Aeneas back in the rage of battle,
where endless vengeance leads to vicious cycles of killing, by This is how Aeneas introduces himself to his mother, who is in
which reason and mercy are abandoned—a subtle but powerful disguise before she guides them to Carthage. It is one of the
condemnation of war. many passages in which Aeneas is labeled pius in
Latin—"pious" or, as translated here, "duty-bound." One of his
It is unclear whether Virgil intended to end the poem so
obligations is to find a new home for his people, represented
abruptly. It doesn't fit the pattern of other epic poems, which
by the household gods he carries.
usually conclude with sections that wrap up details in the story,
such as Aeneas building his fated city and actually marrying
Lavinia. Virgil died before finishing his epic, so he may have
intended a conclusion of this sort. But if the ending we have is "But, oh/how wrong to rely on
what he intended, it makes his denunciation of war and the gods dead set against you!"
grief it causes, evoked by Turnus's sad ghost in the last lines of
the poem, that much stronger.
— Aeneas, Book 2
g Quotes During the destruction of Troy, most of the gods turn against
the city and rampage with the Greeks. Cassandra, who has
taken refuge in the temple of Minerva, is raped and dragged
"Wars and a man I sing." away by Ajax (the lesser). They have relied on the gods for
preservation, but they are on the wrong side of Fate. It is a
pattern that repeats for Dido and Turnus, others who come
— Narrator, Book 1
between Aeneas and his fate.
The opening phrase of The Aeneid sets forth Virgil's purpose:

to tell an epic story about a warrior in the tradition of Homer. "To what extremes won't you
compel our hearts,/you accursed
"Romans/On them I set no limits, lust for gold?"
space or time."
— Aeneas, Book 3
— Jupiter, Book 1
In Thrace the Trojans' first attempt to build a new city is
blocked by the blood of Polydorus, who was sent to secure
After Juno nearly wrecks the Trojan fleet in a storm, Venus
Thracian support for Troy but was killed for the gold he
goes to Jupiter in tears, worried that her son will not reach his
brought. In the poem the desire for gold is almost as
fated destination. Jupiter tells her not to worry; Aeneas's fate
destructive as the lust for war. Dido's first husband was killed
has not changed. He will reach Italy and father the
by her brother for gold. The destructive power of gold and war
Romans—and there will be no limits to what they will achieve.
are often intertwined. Both Camilla and tragic Nisus and
Jupiter foresees them conquering the world and ruling forever.

The Aeneid Study Guide Quotes 29
Euryalus are brought down by a desire for rich plunder in Anchises lays out Rome's mission: to rule all the peoples of the
battle. Turnus's fate turns on a golden sword belt. earth, in peace if at all possible, practicing mercy and fighting
only for a righteous purpose. Many interpret this as a directive
for Aeneas as well, because he is the father of the Romans. He
"Stop inflaming us both/with your is fighting for a great purpose, to found Rome, but he fails to
follow the path of mercy in his final battle with Turnus.
appeals. I set sail for Italy—/all
against my will."
"If I cannot sway the heavens, I'll
— Aeneas, Book 4 wake the powers of hell!"
This is the conclusion of Aeneas's somewhat lacking — Juno, Book 7

justification for why he is leaving Carthage and Dido. It gets at
the heart of the matter—that he would stay if his fate did not lie
This is Juno's furious response when Aeneas is on the verge of
elsewhere—but it also dismisses Dido's feelings. Perhaps he is
sealing a pact with King Latinus that will fulfill his fate. She has
trying not to give in to his own feelings, but there is a
previously worked with other gods—Aeolus, Iris, and even
suggestion that she is a hysterical woman. This is Aeneas at
Venus (who lets Juno think she is working with her)—to create
his most humanly flawed.
trouble for Aeneas. Now she turns to the Fury Allecto, twin
sister of Tisiphone, who guards the gate of Tartarus in the
Underworld. Allecto infects Amata and Turnus, and through
"Here is the man ... / Caesar them the people of Latium, with her hellish rage, starting the
war that tears Italy apart.
Augustus!/ ... he will bring back the
Age of Gold."
"Limp as a crimson flower/cut off
— Anchises, Book 6
by a passing plow, that droops as
When Aeneas visits his father, Anchises, in the Underworld, he it dies."
is shown a parade of Romans, most notably Virgil's ruler,
Caesar Augustus. Through Anchises, Virgil predicts that — Narrator, Book 9
Augustus's reign will be a new golden age of Rome, connecting
it to the Age of Gold the god Saturn was said to rule over after
In one of his many epic similes (extended comparisons in the
he was kicked out of the heavens by his children, the new gods
form of similes that can extend several lines), Virgil compares
such as Jupiter and Juno.
the dying Euryalus to a blood-red poppy cut down in a field.
The flower represents the blood from his fatal wound and the
way his head sags over his shoulder as he dies. The farmer has
"But you, Roman, remember ... / ... no intention of cutting down that particular flower; it just
happens to be in the path of the plow. So, too, is the death of
spare the defeated, break the
Euryalus (and Nisus) tragically random.
proud in war."
— Anchises, Book 6 "Each man has his day ... /But to

lengthen out one's fame with
Contrasting the Romans to come with "others" (the Greeks),

The Aeneid Study Guide Symbols 30
action,/that's the work of "Learn courage from me, my son,

courage." true hardship too./Learn good luck
from others."
— Jupiter, Book 10
— Aeneas, Book 12
This is Jupiter's response to Hercules, now a god in the
heavens, after Pallas prays to him for success against Turnus.
These are Aeneas's parting words to Ascanius as he prepares
Hercules weeps not to be able to answer Pallas's prayer and
to enter the final battle of the war—the last words Aeneas
preserve his life. The Romans highly valued the glory of war, so
speaks to his son in the poem. Aeneas has demonstrated
the fame of a great death in battle provides some consolation
courage in the face of many hardships, but he definitely has
for Pallas's death. Jupiter goes on to point out that Turnus's
not benefited from good luck in his travels. Juno's efforts have
fate also awaits him—Pallas's killer will not go unpunished.
seen to that. Like any parent, Aeneas wants his son to benefit
from his successful experiences, but to avoid his difficulties.
This exchange carries an extra level of meaning because of
"Vengeance waits ... /you'll lie here the Roman concept of pietas, which includes a reverence for
in the same field—very soon." family, especially fathers and sons.
— Orodes, Book 10
l Symbols
As Mezentius gleefully kills him, the Trojan soldier Orodes
foreshadows Mezentius's own imminent death by predicting
their fates will be the same. Tisiphone, the Fury of vengeance,
roams the battlefield. Mezentius has been the killer this time,
Fire
but he will soon come up against Aeneas, and Orodes's death
will be avenged.
Fire is an uncontrollable force in the poem, symbolizing both
destruction and inspiration. It physically destroys Troy and
"The same dark fate of battle damages the Trojan ships in Sicily, and it is figuratively used to
describe the fury of battle that obscures even Aeneas's
commands me back/to other rational thinking and mercy. Dido is driven to suicide by her
tears." love for Aeneas. Pallanteum's grief over Pallas's death is also
symbolized by fire.
— Aeneas, Book 11 On the positive side, fire is a symbol of destiny and inspiration.
The flame of passion the goddess Venus inspires in her
Aeneas speaks these words as he sends the procession with husband, Vulcan, figuratively and physically results in the
Pallas's body back to Pallanteum. He accompanies it part of creation of the shield and weapons she gives to Aeneas. Fire
the way, paying his respects and saying goodbye, but he appears on both Ascanius's and Lavinia's heads as a sign of
cannot accompany the procession all the way to Pallas's their destinies. The sight of Aeneas's great descendants
home—the war isn't over yet. Significantly, Aeneas sees the waiting in the Underworld "fired his soul with a love of glory still
battles ahead as causes of more death and tears rather than to come."
paths to glory, emphasizing the cost of war.

The Aeneid Study Guide Themes 31
Golden Bough m Themes
The golden bough is a symbol of Aeneas's extraordinary and Inevitability of Fate

inevitable fate. To enter the Underworld, he must find and
pluck the bough, and he will only be able to do so if Fate allows
it. Like his fate, his access to the bough has already been
determined. The golden bough grants him access to the world A person's destiny is determined by the Fates, three
of the dead that is usually forbidden to those not dead, making goddesses who spin the thread of life, measure it, and cut it,
him one of only a few extraordinary people who have entered it thus determining the quality and length of a person's life. Once
while still living. set, even the gods cannot change Fate. Aeneas's inevitable
fate is to found a new city in Italy that builds the groundwork
for the city of Rome and the Roman Empire. This theme
primarily glorifies Rome, but Virgil obviously also hopes for the
Shield of Aeneas inevitable fate of the Roman Empire to be a long and peaceful
future.
Some characters try to alter the course of Aeneas's fate. The

The great shield that the fire god Vulcan makes for Aeneas is goddess Juno is set against him from the very beginning, and
engraved with images of Roman history, which have not she repeatedly uses her divine powers to cause trouble for
happened yet in the epic's time frame. Because these events him. However, she only manages to lengthen and twist
have happened in Virgil's time, they are inevitable as Aeneas's Aeneas's path to his fate, not block it. Turnus is Juno's primary
future. The shield functions as a symbol of the destiny of Rome agent for interfering with Aeneas's fate in Italy, imposing a
and Aeneas's fate. It also ensures Aeneas's inevitable fate by costly war on him just when it looks like he will fulfill his fate in
protecting him in battle. Other people's shields, including Italy by the peaceful means of marriage.
Pallas's and Turnus's, fail, allowing them to be injured or killed,
but Aeneas's shield protects him without taking damage. Other characters support Aeneas's fate, most notably his
mother, the goddess Venus who, naturally, as the goddess of
love, believes his protection lies in that attribute, even though
his fate is made more difficult by his attachment to Dido. Other
Gates of War gods also keep Aeneas's fate on track, clarifying his destiny
and countering Juno's mischief. The sea god Neptune rescues
the Trojan ships in Book 1, and Apollo repeatedly sends
Aeneas prophecies telling him where he should be heading.
The Gates of War were the entrances to the temple of Janus
Jupiter, king of the gods, is responsible for executing the
(god of doorways) in Rome. They were symbolically opened
Fates' decree. Although he tempers that responsibility with
during wartime and closed in times of peace. In Book 7 Virgil
sympathy for Juno, who is also his wife, he does finally rein her
places an early version of the Gates of War in Latium. King
in and allow Fate to take its course. Of course, Aeneas's fate is
Latinus, waffling between Queen Amata, Turnus, and the
supported by his family and fellow Trojans. His father,
people who are clamoring for war and his pledge of peace to
Anchises, in particular plays a large role in exploring and
Aeneas, hesitates to open the Gates of War and start the
explaining the specifics of his fate.
conflict. When Juno takes the decision out of his hands and
flings open the gates, "all Italy blazed." Jupiter predicts in Book
1 that the Gates of War are destined to be bolted shut,
symbolizing the long and peaceful rule that Virgil envisions for
Caesar Augustus and successors.

The Aeneid Study Guide Themes 32
to disrupt his fate until Jupiter reminds him of his duty to family.
Destiny of Rome At the end of the poem, his rage over Pallas's death prompts
him to kill Turnus rather than show him mercy, ignoring his
father's directive to spare the defeated. Virgil seems to be
Aeneas's fate is inextricably linked with the destiny of Rome. warning readers about the dangers of war and acting in anger
By placing the legendary hero Aeneas into a historical and vengeance, a lesson for both Rome, which has been
framework, Virgil uses his heroic qualities to explain the ravaged by civil war, and for all those who would make war.
historical rise of Rome up to his time and to predict the With these human flaws, Aeneas represents an ideal test of the
continued greatness of the Roman Empire into the future. heroic man's resolve to remain true to his own destiny.
Although the poem is set generations before the founding of
Rome, many details reference events from Roman history
through Virgil's time. The images on Aeneas's shield and the
parade of Romans waiting in the Underworld to be reborn are Will of the Gods
the most obvious examples, but there are also many less
explicit references that would have resonated with Roman
readers. Most of the conflict in The Aeneid is caused by the changing
will of the gods. Far from being infallible, the gods of Rome
Aeneas's character illustrates the qualities Virgil believed were
(like their Greek counterparts) act more like squabbling
needed for Rome to achieve a peaceful destiny. When not
children than higher beings. In this frame Virgil seems to invite
consumed by battle fury, he is just and merciful and never
the reader to question whether or not the gods merit the
starts a fight. The contrast between Aeneas's actions in and
respect they demand of human beings, a consideration that
out of battle is a subtle condemnation of the endless quest for
would not have been alien to philosophical considerations of
glory through battle, which not only had become a defining
Romans at the time. Unfortunately, the gods also have a lot of
characteristic of Rome and its leaders, but also led to civil war.
power, so they cause great trouble. They are just as biased as
mortal characters in the epic and give little thought to the
people who are caught in the crossfire. Juno, queen of the
Honor and Respect gods, is Aeneas's main antagonist, always trying to prevent the
fulfillment of his fate, whereas Aeneas's goddess mother,
Venus, is his main supporter. Both intervene to influence Dido,
and their meddling ultimately causes her suicide. Juno starts
Aeneas is repeatedly called pious (pius Aeneas appears the war in Italy by enraging Turnus and Queen Amata, forcing
numerous times in the Latin text), a concept that encompassed Aeneas into a fight he does not want.
much more than paying respect to the gods in Roman culture.
Piety (pietas) also includes honoring and being mindful of one's As powerful as the gods are, they cannot change Fate. Juno
duties to family and country. Aeneas is a nearly ideal example succeeds in making Aeneas's path to his new home in Italy
of pietas. He takes great care to preserve his family, especially more difficult, but in the end, even she must let Fate take its
his father and son. In the destruction of Troy, he carries his course. Other gods and mythical figures support each side of
disabled father on his back and holds his son's hand. His the conflict, serving to balance the divine influences and
father, Anchises, is his most respected adviser. Aeneas also ensure Aeneas's fate. Jupiter, king of the gods, mediates
preserves the household gods of Troy, carrying the spirits of between the arguing goddesses and has the final responsibility
his old home to his fated new home in Italy. And of course to fulfill the Fates' decree. As the gods cannot change
Aeneas honors the gods with offerings and sacrifices. With the Aeneas's fate, they also cannot change Rome's great fate.
exception of Juno, whom he is unable to appease, the gods
reward his reverence by answering his prayers.
However, Aeneas's great piety can be overcome, at least

temporarily, by passion and anger. His love for Dido threatens

The Aeneid Study Guide Suggested Reading 33
e Suggested Reading
Anderson, William S. The Art of the Aeneid. 2nd ed. Wauconda,
IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2005. Print.
Becker, Trudy Harrington. "Ambiguity and the Female Warrior:

Vergil's Camilla." Electronic Antiquity 4.1 (1997). Web. 23 Apr.
2016.
Johnson, W. R. Darkness Visible: A Study of Vergil's Aeneid.

Chicago: U of Chicago P, 2015. Print.
Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin,

2010. Print.
Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Random

House, 1983. Print.

Full Review of 'The Aeneid' by Virgil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Full Review of 'The Aeneid' by Virgil

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Full Review of 'The Aeneid' by Virgil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are the main influences on Virgil's Aeneid?

What are the main influences on Virgil's Aeneid?

What are some of the main Roman virtues illustrated in the story?

What are some of the main Roman virtues illustrated in the story?

The Aeneid

Study Guide by Course Hero

j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 ABOUT THE TITLE

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 8 d In Context

g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 28 Homer's Influence

even silly would not have been much of a surprise to the

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Destiny of Rome can be seen in his epic.

In 19 BCE, after more than a decade of work, The Aeneid was

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

situation in Carthage badly and behaves callously toward Dido.

Turnus seduced by Venus and then struck by Jupiter's lightning for

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Other Major Character

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Full Character List Evander

Character Description Juturna is Turnus's sister and a river

Mezentius is an Etruscan king who fights

Pallas is the son of King Evander of

Jupiter, often called Jove, is the king of

Camilla is a female warrior who fights

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

k Plot Summary A Tragic Love Affair Ends as

Fighting unfavorable winds, the Trojan fleet stops again in

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

determined to win Lavinia or die. On the morning of the duel,

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Rising Action Falling Action

4. Aeneas celebrates the anniversary of Anchises's death.

5. Aeneas and the Sybil visit Anchises in the Underworld.

8. Turnus traps the Trojans, but Aeneas arrives with allies.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

After the destruction of Troy, Aeneas's fleet wanders

Seven years later

A storm drives the fleet to Carthage; Aeneas loves and

Aeneas consults the Sybil of Cumae and they visit his

The Trojans arrive in Latium; Juno turns Queen Amata

Turnus attacks the Trojan fort; Nisus and Euryalus die

Aeneas and his allies arrive and fight a great battle;

The next few days

Both sides mourn their dead; Aeneas sends Pallas's body

A few weeks later

Turnus attacks Aeneas's approaching troops; Camilla

The next day

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

After one last unexpected battle, Aeneas kills Turnus in

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

"plague/about to strike" her, Dido begs Aeneas for the story of

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Virgil's mastery of language is evident in the vivid imagery of

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

As in later battle scenes, Virgil's depiction of violence is graphic

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.